Job Discussion Forums

[seabright]

Hello all,

i have just accepted a job offer in Sharjah and I am arriving July 10th. I have lived in California all of my life and I was getting a bit nervous about leaving the states.

AT the same time i am really excited about living in the UAE and continuing to learn arabic and possibly taking some classes at AUS.

I wanted to ask everyone here if they had any advice about moving to sharjah, IE: what should i expect, what should i bring, what areas are worth checking out, how much it costs to live there. etc..... or if there was something that you learned when you first moved to the UAE that you would like to share with a fellow new comer, I would love to hear from you.


thanks,

Justin

PS: ill be teaching EFL in Sharjah

[veiledsentiments]

What will you be doing? I assume that since you are talking of studying at AUS, not teaching at AUS, that you are a student.

I hope that you are aware that the Gulf is not the best place for learning Arabic... there is just little chance of using it for most expats.

This board is mostly for giving teachers advice, but the search works pretty well, and there have been a few threads on Sharjah... though that you will find that the information is mostly about teaching jobs.

VS

[seabright]

so no one has any advice or thoughts? i did a search and it was not very helpful.

[veiledsentiments]

Most teachers are traveling for the summer... and likely have better things to do than hang around at Dave's. But, we don't get that many posters from Sharjah anyway. I don't know if someone will pass through with more specific info or not...

It is really difficult to answer most of your questions. In general I would say that Sharjah had ended up being rather a bedroom suburb of Dubai - where all the action is because Sharjah is very conservative... no booze... no clubs sort of thing. The cost of living is probably close to that of California... some things cheaper, some more expensive. (cars are cheaper, Oreos more expensive) There is very little you can't buy there - it is after all a much wealthier country than the US.

If you have an MA and are at one of the universities, housing should be provided and your salary should be sufficient to pay for everything and save as much as you wish to. As to what to see... not much of any value or interest in Sharjah itself, but plenty of beaches and mountains nearby and Oman is just next door. Of course arriving at the peak of the heat, you will pretty much prefer to stay indoors and enjoy the AC. It will start to cool down in late October.

Do leave the states... it was the best decision I ever made...

VS
(make sure your driver's license has a few years to run... and if you can, get an insurance letter saying that you have had no claims for 5 or so years.)

[stoth1972]

Justin: I lived in Sharjah in 1998-99 and later returned to Dubai, visiting Sharjah now and then. Friends of mine still reside there, and I visited it last year. Things have changed a lot since I lived there 8 years ago. At the time, American goods (food, cosmetics, toiletries, etc.) were harder to come by. In fact, I think the only anti-perspirant sold at Spinney�s (the big grocery store at that time) was �teen spirit�. Contact solution was pricier (might still be) and my preferred shampoos/conditioners were not available. Since then, Sharjah has put in a Carre Four Hypermarket, a huge mall with lots of shops, a brand new theatre, American restaurant chains (is it chili�s or applebees? Can�t recall), etc. Some might call this progress. It�s certainly not sleepy like it once was. If you�re not finicky about your toiletries, then you should find everything you need in Sharjah.
Alcohol: not to buy or sell in the emirate, though you can obtain a liquor license once you get your residency visa and that will allow you to have it in your home. There is an expats Rugby club in Sharjah. There�s a membership fee (maybe equivalent to a few hundred dollars/year). �The Wanderers�, as it�s called, serves booze at a decent price and a good pub grub. The pool area is quite relaxing and there�s a small gym (I use the term �gym� loosely). There�s a pool table, music, and restaurant area. The members are almost all Brits and it�s a pretty welcoming crowd. Rather stifling, though. I wouldn�t make it the place you spend all your time, but it�s a nice place to escape Sharjah without going to Dubai. You�ll not see the Wanderers from the road, but you will see the massive rugby pitches illuminated. If you dive or would like to learn, they offer a BSAC certification (as opposed to PADI) and the trips to the Gulf of Oman are nothing short of gorgeous and relaxing.

So, if you want booze for home, there is a Hole-In-The-Wall shop just on the edge of Sharjah and Ajman where the booze is much cheaper than buying in Dubai at the off license shop. My suggestion to bring in a bottle in your suitcase, and buy a few more at Duty Free (whatever you�re allowed). You�ll be glad you have it, if for no other reason than to offer some guests a little something to wet their whistles.
No public drunkenness or displays of affection toward the opposite sex (or inappropriate displays towards the same sex). I have had friends followed in their taxi by undercover police. Nothing like being questioned about why you fell out of the cab at 3:00 am.
Aside from the huge shopping mall, there are traditional �souqs� that offer some decent shopping-great for when you need gifts to take home.
VS is right about the Arabic (Urdu or Hindi might be more useful), though I do think when you can read the signs and understand a bit on TV, you feel more connected to the culture. That first year I definitely felt a bit �disconnected�. If you thought of staying in the UAE or Middle East long term, then I would recommend it. It�s a nice way to meet people.
Sharjah is a quieter place than Dubai and more conservative, but you are close enough for a trip into the big city. Like VS said, the mountains of Fujairah are not so far away. It�s also COMPLETELY worth going. Sharjah was my first experience living abroad. I couldn�t find it on the map. I didn�t understand what to expect. A wise friend advised me before I left: �Go, and 6 months will pass by before you figure out what the hell is going on. Then you�ll only have 3 months left� She was right. I never looked back. Enjoy the year there, and you just might end up staying. Good luck!

[qas419]

I agree with the views posted in reference to your query. Sharjah is not your cup of tea; however, the new American university there has definitely given it some life. You cannot compare it to Dubai, which is the most entertaining city in the whole middle East, and yet Sharjah has its own nomadic features. 80% of the UAE population are Asians and other Arabs, mostly from Lebenon and Syria. So learning Arabic is useless there. Neverthless, working in Sharjah is an experience which, i am sure you will cherish forever. Good luck

[helenl]

Sharjah is not a bad place to live - however, if you have to go anywhere by car (and there are no alternatives) - the traffic is horrendous. Taxi drivers in both Sharjah and Dubai often ask what your destination is before you get in the cab, if it's to the other emirate - they may refuse to take you. Count on 1+ hrs to and from Dubai from 7am to 8pm 6 days a week (on Friday mornings you can do it in 15 minutes).

Right now, it's probably easier and quicker to go to the CarreFour in Ajman rather than Sharjah because of construction on the King Faisal Road.

Ajman now has the "Outside Inn" on the corniche (read beach) just over the border from Sharjah which is quite nice. Of course, there's the 5* Ajman Kempinski with several nice restaurants, a beautiful beach and well set up gym, also just down the road. However, if you're blonde and between 20 and 50 you might be mistaken for a Russian (synonymous sadly with prostitute) if you enter the bars at the Kempinski on your own.

Regards

[seabright]

thanks everyone for such detailed and informative responses!!

I had one more question I was hoping you could answer. What happens as far as money goes in the UAE.

for example, can I still use my (U.S.) credit cards in the UAE?
Also, is it difficult to set up a bank account with a UAE bank?

thanks again,

Justin

[veiledsentiments]

Finances are little or no problem. I used my US credit cards overseas, but do inform your credit card company that you are going there. If they see overseas charges, their first assumption is that the card has been stolen. I actually had problems with this at first in Kuwait, and I had even told them before I left. You may want to find out where to send the notification by mail so that they have it in writing.

Normally your employer will help with the banking. I always opened my account at the same bank that my employer used so that when the salary was directly deposited, I had immediate access. It is easy to wire your money back home (but can be pricey as you pay on both ends), but I always got a bank draft and mailed it... a bit slower, but waaaay cheaper.

One further note... don't bother opening a checking account if you are used to using one in the US. You will have little or no use for checks there. Everyone uses cash. Open a savings account so that you also get a bit of interest.

VS